Clean coal is the name attributed to coal chemically washed of minerals and impurities, sometimes gasified, burned and the resulting flue gases treated with steam, with the purpose of almost completely eradicating sulfur dioxide, and reburned so as to make the carbon dioxide in the flue gas economically recoverable. The coal industry uses the term "clean coal" to describe technologies designed to enhance both the efficiency and the environmental acceptability of coal extraction, preparation and use^[1], with no specific quantitative limits on any emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. So, it cannot be called clean from an environmental point of view, because it is carbon emissioner. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure and specific physical properties. ... Gasification is a process that converts carbonaceous materials, such as coal, petroleum, or biomass, into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reacting the raw material at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled steam and water vapor, accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Sulfur dioxide (or Sulphur dioxide) has the chemical formula SO2. ... In order to meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article requires cleanup. ... Flue gas is gas that exits to the atmosphere via a flue, which is a pipe or channel for conveying exhaust gases from a fireplace, oven, furnace, boiler or steam generator. ... In order to meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article requires cleanup. ... General Name, symbol, number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, period, block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Standard atomic weight 12. ... Look up emission in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The burning of coal, a fossil fuel, is the principal causes of anthropogenic climate change and global warming [1]. The concept of clean coal as a solution to climate change and global warming is claimed to be "greenwash" by some environmental organizations such as Greenpeace^[2] because emissions and wastes are not avoided, but are transferred from one waste stream to another. The Australian of The Year, renowned scientist and author Tim Flannery made the assertion that "Coal can't be clean"^[3]. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal and petroleum (fuel oil or natural gas), formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals[1] by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earths crust over hundreds of millions of years[2]. The theory that hydrocarbons were formed from these... Look up anthropogenic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400,000 years For current global climate change, see Global warming. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1850 to 2006 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and the projected... Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400,000 years For current global climate change, see Global warming. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1850 to 2006 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and the projected... Greenwash (a portmanteau of green and whitewash) is a pejorative term that environmentalists and other critics use to describe the activity of giving a positive public image to putatively environmentally unsound practices. ... Greenpeace protest against Esso / Exxon Mobil. ... There are many different waste types or waste streams which are produced by a variety of processes. ... For the baseball player, see Tim Flannery (baseball). ...

There are no coal-fired power stations in commercial production which capture all carbon dioxide emissions, so the process is theoretical and experimental and thus a subject of feasibility or pilot studies. It is has been estimated that it will be 2020 to 2025 before any commercial-scale clean coal power stations (coal-burning power stations with carbon capture and sequestration) are commercially viable and widely adopted.^[4]. This time frame is of concern because there is an urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and climate change to protect the world economy according to the Stern report. Even when CO₂ emissions can be caught, there is considerable debate over the necessary carbon capture and storage that must follow. Global carbon dioxide emissions 1800–2000 Global average surface temperature 1850 to 2006 Mitigation of global warming involves taking actions aimed at reducing the extent of global warming. ... Sir Nicholas Stern, author of the report. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Carbon dioxide sink. ...

Byproducts

The byproducts of clean coal are very hazardous to the environment if not properly contained. This is seen to be the technology's largest challenge, both from the practical and public relations perspectives.

While it is possible to remove most of the sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate (PM) emissions from the coal-burning process, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and radionuclides ^[5] will be more difficult to address. Technologies do exist to capture and store CO₂, but they have not been made available on a large-scale commercial basis due to the high economic costs^[6]. For this reason renewable energy sources or nuclear power may be a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. The term nitrogen oxide is a general term and can be used to refer to any of these oxides (oxygen compounds) of nitrogen, or to a mixture of them: Nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen(II) oxide Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Dinitrogen monoxide (N2O) (Nitrous oxide) Dinitrogen trioxide (N2O3) Dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) Dinitrogen... Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM), aerosols or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. ... Renewable energy flows involve natural phenomena such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat. ... For fusion power, see Fusion power. ...

Potential uses of clean coal

Examples of clean coal usage include the proposed US FutureGen plant — planned to be a near zero-emissions coal-fired power plant, but is still years away from commercial operation (expected 2012) and whose commercial viability is unknown. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... FutureGen is a project of the US government to build a zero-emissions coal-fired power plant that produces hydrogen and electricity while using carbon dioxide sequestration. ... A power station (also power plant) is a facility for the generation of electric power. ...

It is also believed that some process similar to the natural gas fuel cell or microbial fuel cell (charged from biomass or sewage) may be practical using coal as fuel. These technologies are used mostly for stationary fuel cells as charging is slow. A large power plant in a coal mine might be the most energy-efficient approach and require the least transport of coal to the users. The return of the coal chute and its use in homes may be possible in some places, especially if home sewage or natural gas lines can be tapped as well by an improved fuel reformer technology such as that already used to convert methanol or gasoline to the natural gas form. A microbial fuel cell (MFC) or biological fuel cell is a device in which micro-organisms oxidize compounds such as glucose, acetate or wastewater. ... See biomass (ecology) for the use of the term in ecology, where it refers to the cumulation of living matter Switchgrass, a tough plant used in the biofuel industry in the United States Rice chaff. ... Sewage is the mainly liquid waste containing some solids produced by humans which typically consists of washing water, faeces, urine, laundry waste and other material which goes down drains and toilets from households and industry. ... Wyoming coal mine Coal mining is the mining of coal. ... Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naptha or wood spirits, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH. It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, poisonous liquid with a distinctive odor that is somewhat milder and sweeter than ethanol (ethyl alcohol). ... “Petrol” redirects here. ...

Potential cost of clean coal

In Carbon capture and storage under "Cost of CCS" lifetime costs for natural gas, pulverized coal and IGCC with and without carbon capture are detailed. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Carbon dioxide sink. ... This could refer to: The Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation Integrated Gasification Combined Cycles (see Combined cycle) This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ...

In a study conducted in 2003 by the IEA GHG, "the capital cost of building a Shell-designed IGCC could cost $1371 per kW-electric without carbon capture and $1860 with it."^[7]

Comparisons with other energy sources can be found in Economics of new nuclear power plants. The Economics of new nuclear power plants is a controversial subject, since multi-billion dollar investments ride on the choice of an energy source. ...

Support

Clean Coal has been mentioned by United States President George W. Bush on several occasions, including his 2007 State of the Union Address. Bush's position is that clean coal technologies should be encouraged as one means to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil. Senator Hillary Clinton has also recently said that "we should strive to have new electricity generation come from other sources, such as clean coal and renewables."^[8]. George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... 2003 State of the Union address given by U.S. President George W. Bush The State of the Union Address is an annual event in which the President of the United States reports on the status of the country, normally to a joint session of the U.S. Congress (the... Hillary Rodham Clinton (born Hillary Diane Rodham on October 26, 1947) is the Biggest loser/retard these united states have seen from New York. ...

In Australia, clean coal is often referred to by Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd as a possible way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [2]. Current Prime Minister John Howard believes that nuclear power is a better alternative, as clean coal technology may not prove to be economically favorable ^[9]. 1 Note that Gough Whitlam refused to use the title Leader of the Opposition between the dismissal of his government in November 1975 and the first meeting of the new parliament in February 1976. ... Kevin Michael Rudd (born 21 September 1957), is the leader of the federal Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Parliament. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... For fusion power, see Fusion power. ...

Criticism

Prominent environmentalists including Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy Program, believe that the term clean coal is misleading: "There is no such thing as 'clean coal' and there never will be. It's an oxymoron". ^[10] Complaints focus on the environmental impacts of coal extraction, high costs to sequester carbon, and uncertainty of how to manage end result pollutants and radionuclides. There are other viable forms of clean and renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydroelectric which are supported by the many environmentalist groups and campaigns. One of the newest strategies deployed is the Big Switch. ^[11] The Sierra Club is an American environmental organization founded on May 28, 1892 in San Francisco, California by the well-known preservationist John Muir, who became its first president. ... -1... Surface coal mining in Wyoming. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Carbon dioxide sink. ... Air pollution is a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. ... A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized of excess energy which is available to be imparted either to a newly-created radiation particle within the nucleus, or else to an atomic electron (see internal conversion) . The radionuclide, in this process, undergoes radioactive decay...

See also

• Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate
• Carbon capture and storage
• Coal
• Energy development
• Energy Policy Act of 2005
• Fluidized bed combustion
• FutureGen
• IEA Clean Coal Centre
• Kyoto Protocol
• Syngas
• Waste management
• World Coal Institute

The Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate is an international non-treaty agreement between Australia, India, Japan, the Peoples Republic of China, South Korea, and the United States announced July 28, 2005 at an Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum meeting and launched on... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Carbon dioxide sink. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... It has been suggested that future energy development be merged into this article or section. ... The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. ... It has been suggested that Fluidized-bed combustion be merged into this article or section. ... FutureGen is a project of the US government to build a zero-emissions coal-fired power plant that produces hydrogen and electricity while using carbon dioxide sequestration. ... // The IEA Clean Coal Centre (IEA CCC) was formed in 1975, by those OECD governments who were members of the International Energy Agency. ... Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ... It has been suggested that Town gas be merged into this article or section. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Waste For the company, see Waste Management, Inc. ... The World Coal Institute works on a global basis on behalf of the coal industry. ...

External links

• Innovative Silesian Cluster of Clean Coal Technologies
• Coal Online - Free information on Clean Coal technology
• BBC News - Clean coal technology: How it works
• International Energy Association - Clean Coal Centre
• World Coal Institute - Coal: Facts & Figures
• US Department of Energy's clean coal technology web page
• CNNMoney story on clean coal economics
• "Beyond Kyoto" Initiative
• National Energy Technology Laboratory compendium homepage
• Uranium Information Centre paper on "Clean Coal" Technologies
• Remarks of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to the Cleantech Venture Forum VIII
• SaskPower Clean Coal Project
• Air preheater cleaning resulting in better emissions management
• Clean coal facts and figures page by Rising Tide Newcastle
• EU: Large combustion plants air pollution regulation

Industry Articles on Clean Coal

Steven Edwards, Senior Vice President and Managing Director Americas Region, Black & Veatch

• IGCC Technology: A Promising – and Complex – Solution - World Energy Magazine Vol. 8 No. 3

Steven F. Leer, President and CEO, Arch Coal, Inc.

• America's Vast Coal Reserves: A Pivotal Asset in an Uncertain World - World Energy Magazine Vol. 6 No. 2

Mark O’Neill, Executive Director, Australian Coal Association The Australian Coal Association (often abbreviated to ACA) is the major coal industry lobby group in Australia. ...

• Clean Coal: The Path to Major Reductions in Greenhouse Emissions - World Energy Magazine Vol. 8 No. 2

Ron Wood, President, Energy Engineering & Construction Division, Black & Veatch

• The Comeback of Coal-Fired Power - World Energy Magazine Vol. 7 No. 4

Reference notes

1. ^ AustralianCoal.com.au - Clean Coal Overview
2. ^ GreenPeace.org - Clean Coal Myths and Facts
3. ^ Herald Sun, Melbourne Australia February 14, 2007 04:30pm
4. ^ David Brockway, Chief of the Energy Technology Division, CSIRO, quoted by Crikey.com.au 20 Feb 2007
5. ^ ORNL.gov - Coal Combustion: Nuclear Resource or Danger?
6. ^ BBC.co.uk - Clean coal technology: How it works
7. ^ Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (2005). Cleaner Coal. Retrieved on 2007-04-23.
8. ^ Remarks of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to the Cleantech Venture Forum VIII
9. ^ NineMSN.com.au - Interview: John Howard February 11, 2007
10. ^ Grist.org - Coal Position
11. ^ The Big Switch - Australia's largest community climate change campaign